The four independent TDs who support the Government say they are not putting any immediate pressure on it to announce a referendum on abortion. This follows the publication yesterday of the report of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.
The four - Ms Mildred Fox, Mr Harry Blaney, Mr Thomas Gildea and Mr Jackie Healy-Rae - say they want a referendum but appear unwilling, at this point, to set a date.
They largely agree with the option in the report put forward by Fianna Fail, which is to have a referendum in tandem with legislation which would remove the prospect of threatened suicide as a justification for an abortion, as allowed for in the 1992 X case.
Mr Blaney was the most specific on the timing of a referendum, saying that he felt the independents would "dig in their heels to some extent" on getting a commitment that one would be held before next summer. "We have said that to the Taoiseach," he told The Irish Times.
Asked what he would do if he was told there would be no referendum, the Donegal deputy replied: "That is a hypothetical question and not one I would answer at the moment." But he would "consider" withdrawing his support.
The Wicklow TD, Ms Fox, said she saw the publication of the report as "another step towards achieving the goal of a referendum". She added: "I favour the referendum and I won't support anybody who legislates and I won't support an option that does nothing. I also want suicide excluded."
She would like to see a referendum in the lifetime of the Government. "I would like to see it by the summer but I am reluctant to set an unrealistic timetable." If she was told there would be no referendum, Ms Fox said, she would tell Mr Ahern that she would not be supporting the Government.
The Donegal TD, Mr Thomas Gildea, said he wanted a referendum "as soon as possible". But "I am aware of the practicalities . . . I am reasonably confident there will be a referendum of the type I would like to see, come next May."
Mr Jackie Healy-Rae said he was happy there would be a referendum and that "an awful lot of people are now crying out for one."